Wed Sep 18 03:38:58 UTC 2024: ## Chinese State Media Fuels Pro-Russia Narratives in Malaysian Facebook Communities
A new investigation by Sinopsis, a Prague-based organization, reveals how Chinese state media and official channels have been actively spreading pro-Russian narratives about the Ukraine invasion within Chinese-speaking Malaysian communities on Facebook. The research, conducted by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Chan Wei See, and Wong Kai Hui, highlights the unique nature of this influence operation, tailored to resonate with the “US vs. China” sentiment prevalent among the diaspora in Southeast Asia.
The study goes beyond disinformation, analyzing propaganda that may be factual but presented in a biased and misleading way to push a specific agenda. It identifies several key narratives, including the claim that the US is intentionally prolonging the war to undermine the European Union. This narrative, often attributed to Chinese state media, is traced back to a professor at the National Defence University and Air Force Major General, Qiao Liang. He stated in an interview with China News that the US is leveraging the Ukraine crisis to benefit from European capital and arms sales, ultimately consolidating its dominant position. This narrative has been consistently echoed by Chinese state media outlets like Youth.cn, Huaxia, Sina, Wangyi (163), and even People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.
The investigation underscores the significant role of Chinese state media in shaping perceptions of the war in Ukraine within specific communities. While acknowledging the presence of pro-Ukraine/US/West narratives, the study focuses on the more widespread and systematic influence of pro-Russia narratives targeted at Chinese-speaking Malaysians. This research highlights the need for further investigation into the strategies and tactics employed by state actors to manipulate public opinion through social media platforms like Facebook.
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